Chicago Cubs Baseball News | Time To Circle The Wagons?

The Chicago Cubs headed into their off day losing yet again. The team has now lost six straight series and is below .500. Mick Gillispie is joined by Brett Taylor from Bleacher Nation to discuss what is going on and how the Cubs could fix it.
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Mick Gillispie has covered the Chicago Cubs since 2007 and has been a fan of the team since the 1984 season. He has broadcasted spring training games or been heard on Cubs.com, MLB.com, 670 The Score, WGN, CSN-Chicago and Marquee Sports Network. He is an award winning play-by-play voice for the Tennessee Smokies Cubs Double-A Affiliate. He has also hosted many forums over the years at Cubs Convention including Down on The Farm.

[@user-bu7be3vk9b]

I enjoyed this episode a lot. Two of my favorite Cubs writers/podcast guys.

[@danielaguirre133]

I believe this set back from all the injuries, weather, Pitching will all come together. These Cubs are winners. They all have hearts of champions. The Fans just have to believe and love going to the game. We are going to the playoffs!!

[@timad11]

Mick you are absolutely right about bringing Cassie up. The question is, would they play him? They can’t even handle moving PCA to lead off where he belongs. It’s not like the offense isn’t broken and they should try something else or anything. It’s like the Cubs want to be boring. Again mission accomplished.

[@ranlitt3201]

I'll listen later. I'm working but if the starters could hold teams down to 3 runs or less, we'd win!!! Thanks guys!

[@lucastucker1979]

Followed Bert :) at Bleacher Nation for years and loving the channel Mick, helps during this tough stretch.

[@timad11]

Swanson should be batting 9th, except that the Cubs have too many other candidates to bat last as well.

[@14LP2]

Dansby Heyward could bat 10th.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

If your catchers were hitting above .200 I'd agree. But you want those guys batting the least.

[@timad11]

@@cubsbaseballchannel they would be the other candidates I am speaking of.

[@danielaguirre133]

The boys are BACK !

[@Nishijin1975]

I really appreciate the work that Brett does. Thanks for having him on!

[@timad11]

How many serious teams would continue to bat Morel 4th? Hearing all the excuses of why he should be doing better is getting old. Meanwhile, Bellinger really has no protection. I can’t think of one time this year that Morel has come through after Bellinger has been pitched around.

[@GoldyAF1]

It's a simple fix. They just need to hit the batting cages with Mark Grace on an off day and invite the community to come out and watch at some public mini golf/cages location and raise money for some charity at the same time. They can come together as a team to better their batting with some critique from Grace and help those in need at the same time. Maybe the sense of doing something good for the community will send them in the right direction because they feel good again.

[@michaelbauch7005]

Swanson was one of 4 free agent shortstops available.Last year he hit 23 home runs and won the gold glove.No one was complaining then.He had a bad month because he was hurt.Gotta look ahead a little.

[@ggranath56]

He strikes out a hell of a lot.

[@14LP2]

Dansby Heyward was the consolation prize. He had a good year in 2022 (contract year). I was not thrilled when we signed him….and if I’m in the minority so be it.

[@michaelbauch7005]

Find some fool GM would will trade a veteran catcher for Morel.He's a .190 hitter with streaky power

[@derwolfpack3599]

Cubs are fat and slow compared to every other team. Do we have a training staff? Does Councell make anyone run?

[@tracykharp]

Well this is a less than encouraging conversation . There is no accountability in this organization right now. A sports team is there for the fans, number one. It’s there to win. In any other workplace, people lose jobs when they don’t produce. Sustained success is success…not what we’ve witnessed the last few years.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

I love your passion! Just keep in mind there have been lots of injuries. Let’s give them a chance to turn it around. If they miss again then heads could roll. Just doesn’t always work. Got to have the right replacement if you hold the front office accountable

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

Oh the lineup knows they gotta score 7 runs to win. The Bullpen effects everything. Now, should Cubs explore a Busch for Pete Alonso trade. Maybe 🤔. Kinda wanna give Busch time to become a Pete Alonso, but we wanna win now. It's a Tough decision.

[@miltonalbright1606]

The pin and need to hit for sure

[@rogerdodger723]

Horner, PCA, Tauchman, Bellinger, Sazuki, Happ, Morel, Swanson, Amaya

[@timad11]

Mick, love the show as always, my question is this, I understand what you guys are saying about Jed, but he’s the one who put this roster together in the first place-shouldn’t that matter? I find it comical that the front office will decide whether to improve the team or not at the deadline based on their own poor roster construction in the first place. Who will be the scapegoat this year? Jed and Tom seem to have set this team up to fail. The goal for the year seems to be to stay under the first tax threshold. Well mission accomplished! And if that’s truly all that matters, Jed will survive a dumpster fire of a team.

[@trojrafal]

Nelson Vazquez would look great in this lineup. Would love to understand the “evaluation” of Cuas to make that lopsided trade.

[@timad11]

When Suzuki and Tauchman are both in the lineup, why isnt Tauchman in RF with Suzuki at DH? Tauchman is CLEARLY the better fielder. I’d like to see a realistic answer that doesn’t involve the fact that Suzuki has a much bigger contract.

[@lindaalmaguer407]

Cody Bellinger was a good to above average first baseman with the dodgers before he went to center. His defensive first base performance has been outstanding this season. Consistency is needed on Cubs. Someone needs to make a decision who plays center and first base.

[@johnlenon8872]

correct. Belli at 1B, who CAN scoop, and PCA in CF ( who is better than Belli) helps the defense a ton.

[@michaelbauch7005]

IQ check? How can anyone be serious in thinking Mets would take Wisdom for Alonso ?

[@lindaalmaguer407]

Cubs did not do much to advance the lineup or pitching/bullpen. Another top batter or clutch hitter was needed and closer. There is no clutch hitting when batters are on base. Terrible leaving all those bases with players.

[@michaelbauch7005]

I see calls for a new hitting coach.I hereby apply.My credentials? Hitting/3b coach at a particular high school in Oakland that was attended by someone you may know who makes great hard contact.First flight out to Chicago ?

[@musicmanharp4467]

Mick what is the problem with cub catchers. Cardinals got three. THREE

[@ricklasse]

I don’t know why so many fans are ready to jump ship. The Cubs are, just about, in the same place that they were last year and they were able to turn things around. They started a stretch beginning April 23 this season where they only had two scheduled days off. They caught a break when they had that rain out in St. Louis. But, they still had to suit up and be at the ballpark. So, while the game wasn’t played, it wasn’t really an off day. The one thing no one is mentioning is how brutal their schedule had been in April and May. The month of May being the toughest month. Combining the schedule so far with the injuries and I’m surprised the Cubs haven’t lost more games June, July and August seem to have more, actual, off days and with some of the guys who are currently still on the Injured List, coming back, this team should be healthy enough to do something similar to what they did last year. The one thing that this stretch of games has shown is that Jed and Carter need to address a few holes…particularly at catcher. I won’t mention the bullpen until everyone is healthy again, with the exception of Adbert Alzolay…I have a feeling he may not be back the rest of the season, unfortunately.

[@ricklasse]

By the way, in two days, the Cubs have gained 1 1/2 games on the Brewers and if the Cubs can stick close to the Brewers, they have three games against them in Milwaukee at the end of June. I know Mick and so many fans are down on Patrick Wisdom but the team and the fans needed that clutch home run and that enthusiastic run around the bases tonight. Will it jump start this team…I have no idea…but it’s what they needed tonight! And, I was pleased to see Ian Happ get a big base hit with more than one runner on base…maybe things are starting to turn around after all!

[@ricklasse]

And, the Cubs have another 3 game series in late July against the Brewers and I think that’s it for the season against Milwaukee. And, by then, the Cubs should have just about everyone back and healthy. I want to say something about Nick Madrigal. He’s not the “Nicky Two-Strikes” that played for the White Sox and that’s too bad. He hasn’t been the same since he had his right hamstring reattached in 2021. From what I’ve heard during broadcasts, that kind of recovery isn’t always 100%. There’s always going to be times when it’s going to feel tight and difficult to loosen up. And, it was his right hamstring, which is the leg that drives his swing…so, I’m guessing he’s lost a little power in that leg. But, even having said that, he must have shown something to Jed, Carter and Craig Counsell to earn a spot on the major league roster. I, for one, hope he can make it back on the Cubs major league roster…or another major league roster.

[@flatusexpellus1779]

We have to remember that this time around, Jed doesn't have the #2 and #4 pick to speed up this rebuild... the rules don't let Cub tank this time and nobody wants to wait either... that's the reality

[@flatusexpellus1779]

And Andrew Cashner on the team in order to trade for young Rizzo

[@scottspence9178]

I have enjoyed the show but no one seems to mention the fact that maybe this group of players are not as good as people thought. I know it’s mud on people’s face to give contracts out to players who aren’t working out. But the cubs are paying so many of their players to be mediocre players and it shows

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

Great point! And that would be a worst case scenario for the Cubs

[@ggranath56]

Like Morel?

[@JohnVaglica]

The cubs are done. The have lost six straight series which 3 team were well below .500

[@kimhill1254]

How important is this white Sox series?

[@tracykharp]

Long term to be a 500 team every year? Is that the goal? The best decisions are those to make us champions each year, not chumps.

[@johnlenon8872]

If the Cubs do not tighten up their defense, they have no shot. Busch cannot play defense. So there needs to be a rotating DH schedule. And Suzuki can’t catch. So right now the DH needs to rotate between Suzuki, Morel, Busch, and Wisdom. Tauchman RF Hoerner 2B Bellinger 1B Suzuki DH Happ LF Swanson SS Bote 3B PCA CF Amaya C I would make Morel, Wisdom and Busch permanent DH’s or pinch hitters, as NONE of them can field. We will find that errant throws can be field by Belli, as Rizzo used to do. The Cubs defensive fielding percentage is bad because the corner infielders can’t catch and right now, all the IF dudes are making bad throws. If you identify weaknesses, which are RF, 1B, and 3B, then fix it. And if ALL the team cannot hit (a lot if stems from being behind or being behind in the count because they ALL take strike 1, K on called strike 3, and swing at 0-1 in the dirt) then you must tell your batters to attack the first pitch if it’s a strike. We TAKE strike 1 down the middle all the time. So implement my suggestions, and win. Keep trotting out Morel at 3B and hitting 4th (batting avg .190) then you will win 75 games. One more thing: If the Cubs improve their defense, that takes pressure of their offense and the bullpen. Giving up runs and outs, then expecting the bullpen to be perfect while the hitters are "taking pitches" and "working the count" or "working and taking their walks" means you are passive and hopeful. Hope is not a strategy. I heard AROD say once a couple years ago when the Cubs had 1st and 3rd and one out and the clean up hitter was up with a 2-0 count. And he took a meatball down the middle. AROD went off. He said you can NOT be passive. You get a cookie. TRY. Just try to mash that ball instead of working the count. You are all in or all out.

[@cubsbaseballchannel]

They were supposed to be a defensive club...

[@timad11]

The Cubs chose to keep Cuas over Estrada…….case closed.

[@finkomsky]

I see a lot overreaction and irrationality in the comments. Successful teams are not built on emotion. Baseball players performance is like the stock market, irrational in the short term rational over the long term Jed Hoyer has done a phenomenal job rebuilding this club the last couple of years..yes the next couple he will be judged on playoffs results and appearances but it’s still early to judge Let’s try be objective and look at the facts; Suzuki is underperforming right now but has shown he is a v talented hitter so let’s give it time, on a cheap contract Hoerner is a proven good hitter and a gold glover Dansby is a proven good hitter and gold glover Happ is a proven good hitter and a gold glover Bellinger is a very good hitter and gold glover and playing better The starting rotation is playing out of their skin and all of them are on affordable contracts Imanaga 1.86era looks like a steal Steele homegrown ace returning from injury Ben brown 3.33 era was a great acquisition (for David Robertson 😂) and he hasn’t begun to scratch the surface Jordan wicks is injured and is a solid potential still young Assad 2.27 era is underrated and is showing top of the rotation performances on a cheap contract Taillon is finally showing what he can do 2:84 era in 8 starts Like that is a ridiculous hit rate on pitchers The next wave; Morel is 24 and very talented you need to give him the opportunity and time to prove this so just wait Busch is a rookie and very talented he just needs the opportunity and time PCA is a rookie and very talented again patience Then there’s canario, alcantara, Vasquez, shaw, cassie, Davis, Horton,Luke little, hodge Never mind - triantos,rojas, Ballesteros, that’s 15 prospects breaking through and on the cusp of Areas for improvement and let’s cut our losses Hendricks - we don’t need anymore as we have 6 solid young starters end of an era Madrigal - he’s had enough time to prove himself he needs to go Davis let’s hope he finishes aaa on a high note to trade high but let’s free up a 40 man slot We need a good catcher Bullpen have shown moments of being good, they need to get healthy and we need some offense Trade for a lights out closer Promote some of the young blood shaw cassie and Horton to get a spark This team will scrape the playoffs this year and may go on a run If not, the future is bright with a few tweaks here and there,once we play out the season and qualify our players Right now some players we don’t know what we have until we let them play

[@dmarcellus]

The Cubs Farm System is not nearly as good as it's being advertised. In fact, it's actually bad. Go back two or three years ago and follow Baltimore's AAA team and what they've produced. Review the Cincinnati Reds farm team production for the past 3 or 4 years. The Cubs as an organization has been selling this narrative that their farm system is robust with talent....wrong; its not. Who is on the AAA team in Iowa right now that is a potential All-star? Mervis? lol. Brenden Davis? nope. Cade Horton? His ERA is almost 7. The reality is that their farm system is not good, it's filled with mediocrity...players that have occasional success in AAA...but fail when they get opportunities/promotions because they are in fact not MLB quality.

[@-slurmdaddy-8147]

I’ve noticed they struggled producing their farm into MLB players for many years. Wtf happened with Ed Howard, that was once of dumbest picks that I knew in the moment was a flop. Marquez and Davis, 2 other big names that just fell off. Miguel amaya was top prospect before them. This is just bad organization

[@dmarcellus]

@@-slurmdaddy-8147 The farm system gets so much hype...but when you look at other teams as I've mentioned...and compare what their farm systems are producing compared to the Cubs. The Cubs farm system sucks. Look at their entire AAA squad...none of them are MLB ready. Not one. Cade Horton has an ERA over 6. Biggest lie in MLB is that the Cubs farm system is good. It's really bad.